Chapter 38 – Surprises

Erik and Christine heard a lot of mutters, gasps and a few screams when the cloud of smoke came out of nowhere. They had dropped through the trap door that lead to the 'Mirror room' as Erik liked to call it. He led her though an exit and she found herself in a familiar passage.

"That was quite a display. Don't you think?" Erik asked.

"Certainly." Christine was trying to suppress a giggle. "At least we humiliated your mother. Now I just hope Ivan sees the sense to kick her out."

Erik beamed. "I couldn't have done it without your help Christine."

"Don't forget Zurie. She helped out too." She added.

"And Zurie." Erik corrected himself.

"Did you see the look on the Managers' faces? But…" She frowned. "They will now know about us."

Erik looked at her smiling. She always worries. "Don't worry about it. I have a plan that will cover our relationship up."

Christine looked very puzzled. "How?" Everyone will know about us. The managers do! I might even be…

Erik noticed the look on her face and so he stopped and thought he had better explain. "You know I told you to look as if you were trying to get away?" Christine nodded. "Well if they question you, all you have to do is play dumb, so to speak. I will inform them in a letter that if they don't perform my masterpiece they will never see you again." In which case, you can stay down here with me longer. "If they question you all you have to say is 'I don't remember anything.' and don't worry. They won't remember anything all that well as I think they had drunk a little too much wine."

Christine nodded indicating she understood. Erik had it all planned. She trusted him and knew it would all fall into place. "I think this calls for some sort of celebration don't you?"

I think now is the time to ask her. "Yes. Indeed it is. But I have a surprise for you." He looked down at her as he grinned.

"Oh I love surprises." She smiled widely.

"Well I hope you like this one." Please oh please!

Upon their return to Erik's home Porsche greeted them with a 'Meow'. Christine picked up the cat and stroked her gently. Porsche purred lightly enjoying the attention.

"You know what Erik, considering what she did to this place you have really done a lot to make it look better." Christine said, looking around.

In the weeks before the ball Erik had returned to clear up and try to repair as much as he could so that he and Christine could practice their Tango. The grand piano had been damaged but as they already knew the music, they had known what moves they were doing and were able to get the timing right.

Erik walked over and began to scratch the cat behind the ears. "I think she has missed us." Erik lightly kissed Porsche's fur. "Hm, who has been a good girl?"

Christine laughed. He really loves Porsche... Despite calling her lazy.

Porsche had purred more loudly with both of them fussing over her.

"Wait there." He told Christine. "Just so you know. This is only part of the surprise. The other part you will find out tomorrow." With that he dashed off into one of the rooms.

"Alright." Christine said. Not having a clue as to what her surprise could be.

"Close your eyes Christine." He called over to her.

Christine gently put the cat down. Standing back up, she closed her eyes. She felt Erik

standing in front of her.

"Open them." He whispered.

She opened them and Erik was holding a navy, velvet box in front of her. She gasped. Could it be..? She wondered taking it in her hand. She slowly and very gingerly opened the box. Inside was a silver ring with a Diamond on top, sparkling as if it had been polished to the nth degree. Her eyes met his; she felt her jaw open in complete amazement. "Erik…" She was at a loss for words.

Erik now knelt down on one knee, taking one of her small hands in his. "Christine... Will you marry me?"

She beamed from ear to ear; tears had formed in her eyes. "YES!" She yelled. Throwing her arms around his neck hugging him so tightly.

Erik laughed out loud happily, and stood up lifting Christine's featherweight body off the ground, spinning her round and round. Both of them were laughing with happiness.

"Do you mean it?" He asked, apparently thinking that this was a very good dream and he would wake up from it at any moment.

She answered his question with a deep passionate kiss. Erik felt like he was walking on air. This is the best day of my life! His life seemed to be getting better and better. He had humiliated his mother, causing her to take off and hopefully never return and Christine had just agreed to marry him!

Eventually they broke apart to take a breath in. "Did that answer your question?"

Erik beamed and took the ring from the box. Slowly he placed the ring on the third finger of her left hand and then planted a kiss on the back of it.

She wrapped her arms around his waist leaning into his chest for a moment. Erik slid one hand around her waist to her back pulling her tighter against him. His other hand entwined itself with her hair. He felt tears stinging the back of his eyes.

Eventually he let her step back so she could look at him. Neither of them needed words to explain how they felt. It was evident in their faces.

They held each other, looking deeply into one another's eyes which were glassy with tears. Christine put on a smile, reached out for his hand and gestured for him to bend down lower.

She whispered in his ear: "Follow me."

Erik did as he was told. She was heading for his bedroom. Erik felt a grin creep onto his face as she opened the door.

Porsche looked on as they walked through with beaming faces. The door was then carefully closed and locked. Porsche went off into the library to curl up and settle to sleep for the night.

-

It was the morning after the Masquerade Ball and Firmin and André staggered into their office, a little hung over.

"W- what's…" Firmin trailed off as he stifled a yawn. "…The time?"

André pulled out his pocket watch. It looked like he had difficulty in reading it. "Twenty past four." He replied. Yawning also.

"Twenty past four?" Firmin asked. "It can't be that time. It's morning isn't it?"

"Obviously not." André replied.

Firmin gave a 'tut' sound and marched over to where André was standing with his pocket watch in his left hand.

"Give me that!" Firmin ordered, swiping it clean out of André grip.

He looked at the watch, giving a long exasperated sigh. "No wonder it reads twenty past four. You're reading the watch upside down!"

André didn't really react much to this. He had obviously not sobered up as much as Firmin.

"We need that stuff that Ivan gave us last time." André croaked.

Firmin nodded his agreement; he then went to sit at his desk only to see a familiar looking note. This brought his thoughts back to last night. He remembered that the Phantom had kidnapped Christine. They took it upon themselves last night along with other staff members to search for the missing soprano, but to no avail. They gave up, hoping that she would return.

André flopped into a chair, still in a half–dreamy state. Firmin opened the note and read the same scrawny handwriting that he had read many times since he became the owner of the Populaire.

My Dear Messieurs.

Do not fear for Miss Daae. No harm shall come to her. However, if you do not perform my Opera which I so kindly gave you, then you will never see her again. When I know for sure that you will keep your end of the bargain then I shall return her to you.

I hope that we have an understanding Gentlemen.

O.G

Firmin took the note over to André and handed it to him. As André unfolded it and began to read, Firmin took the leather bound folder he had been given the previous night off a shelf and placed it on his desk.

This is one he wrote? But this has never been done before.

He opened it and began to read. It looked very complicated. "I think we are going to need Madame Giry and Monsieur Reyer to look this over with us."

"Are we going to perform it?" André asked.

"Well I don't suppose we have any choice where Miss Daae is concerned." He replied. "We need to look this over, to see what can be done and besides we need another Opera."

"Very well, I shall find them and bring them in." André stated. He seemed to have woken up a bit more since reading the letter.

With that he left the room, leaving Firmin to read through the score.

-

Erik awoke around 11 that morning to find a sleeping Christine in his arms. He smiled as he thought about the previous night. Past the point of no return. He thought to himself.

He had given into his urge to have her. She had let him and he had no regrets. It was simply an act of love.

He pulled her sleeping form closer to him, holding her tight. He loved the feel of her skin against his. Hoping this moment would never end. Everything just kept getting better and better.

He had written a note during the night to the managers and guessed they would need Reyer and Antoinette's help in making sense of it. Antoinette would then be able to tell him what their decision was. He would then have to, with great reluctance, take Christine back to the surface.

He kissed her softly and her eyes fluttered open and met his gaze. "Good morning." She whispered sleepily.

She remembered what had happened the night before and a bright pink blush rushed to her cheeks as she realized that she was the complete opposite of being fully clothed.

Erik began to chuckle. "Good morning." My fiancée. "Darling." He leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, but she already knew the answer.

"Fantastic, wonderful. There are not enough words to describe how I feel, Christine." He whispered in a husky voice. "What about you? Did you sleep well?"

"I think that's the best night's sleep I have ever had." She replied. She was still in a dreamy state, but her thoughts were completely on what had happened between them last night. "You said that I would find out the other part of the surprise today."

Erik grinned. "You will. How about after lunch? Does that sound alright?"

"Yes. It gives me more time to snuggle up." She said in a cheeky manner.

With that Erik enveloped her in his powerful arms and kissed her hard with passion. She responded by doing the same. She is the most important person in my life, she is here with me now. I have no backward glances.

-

In the managers' office, all four people were sitting around the desk, looking thoughtfully at the 'Don Juan Triumphant' score.

"Ludicrous! Have you read the score?" Reyer said despairingly.

"It is simply impossible!" André added in agreement.

"This is lunacy! Well, you know my views about this whole affair." Firmin cut in. "Utter lunacy!"

"But if we dare refuse, we all know what will happen." Madame Giry warned.

"But Madame, it is far too complex, even for an Opera." Reyer answered.

"We managed to put 'Faust' together. This is no more difficult than that..." She turned to the managers, "…but there is more at stake if we refuse, and that is the life of an 18 year old soprano!" She stressed.

"We know. …We know!" André cut in. "But do you think he would really harm her? I mean you all saw that he was her dance partner."

"Monsieur, I don't believe she knew who it was. You saw her trying to get away didn't you?" Said Madame Giry. Although I must admit I didn't really think he could dance. He is always full of surprises.

"Fine!" Firmin nearly roared. "We will perform it. No questions, André and myself will begin casting and put the list up tomorrow. You will have to inform the ballet dancers and the Orchestra of the next piece. We will get them the music and give that to you later Monsieur Reyer." Reyer nodded. "Alright then, we will speak about this later."

Madame Giry and Reyer hastily left the room. Both managers could tell Reyer was not at all happy about this, but as it was his job, he had to go and inform his Orchestra.

-

"Are you ready yet Christine?" Erik asked.

"Yes." She called out of the door.

How long does it take a women to get dressed? Erik felt something furry rub against his trouser leg. "Porsche?" The cat had a letter in her mouth. Erik took it and opened the letter.

Erik.

The managers have decided to go ahead and perform your opera. Bring Christine back later on tonight when everyone else is asleep.

Antoinette.

"Did Antoinette see you at all?" He asked the cat. Who mewed. I'll take that as a no. He nodded at her.

Erik had told Antoinette to leave any letters in Christine's room and Porsche would come to collect them and bring them down.

"Ready." Christine announced. As she came out of the bedroom. She was wearing a black silk dress. Erik could not take his eyes off her.

"You look stunning." He remarked as he took her hand and they headed off for the passageways. "Here, take this." He handed her a cloak, not wanting her to get cold. "Wait there a moment." He said as they approached the end of one of the passages. He disappeared for a few moments. He popped his head round the corner. "It's all clear come on." She took his hand and he led her to the outside.

"We're in the stables." She said, recognizing where she was. They walked over to where Caesar was standing. "Hello Caesar." Christine whispered patting his nose softly. She walked round and Erik helped her up onto the horses back. He then untied him, mounted and they trotted off out of the stables.

It was sunny outside and surprisingly warm. Fortunately people didn't seem to take any notice of the man wearing a white mask on a black stallion coming out of the stables of the Opera Populaire.

Christine was a little confused. "I didn't think you went out during the daytime."

"I don't." He replied.

"But… there are…" She began.

"People around, that is why I'm taking another route, don't worry, I know the way." He cut in.

They passed through an alleyway beside the Opera house and ended up in some fields. There was no one about and so Christine relaxed and held onto Erik as Caesar galloped and jumped over the fences. She closed her eyes, listening to the birds and the wind rushing past her ears.

-

Back at the Opera Populaire a carriage pulled up outside and a lady dressed in white and holding a suitcase stepped out. She made her way up the stone steps toward the entrance.

"Ah Bonjour Madame Beaumont." The doorman greeted her.

"Bonjour." She said casually over her shoulder, walking into the Populaire.

Carrying her suitcase, she walked up the grand staircase and turned left walking in the direction of the managers' office.

She reached the door and knocked. "Come in." Chirped two male voices.

She pushed the door open, getting the reaction on both managers' faces which read: 'Oh no! it's her!'

"Bonjour messieurs. I was wondering if I could have a chat with you both. You see my husband Ivan and I have had a bit of a falling out and I have moved out temporarily. I was wondering if you had a spare room that I could stay in."

Firmin and André both wanted to tell her 'No you cannot stay.' But as she was a patron and that was where part of their income came from, they had no choice but to give her a room.

"Yes, yes of course. We will have one of the maids prepare it for you." They gave her the directions, and without saying anything else not even a 'thank you', she headed out of the door.

Both mangers sighed simultaneously. Both glad to not have to be in the presence of Catherine Beaumont for too long.

-

Erik and Christine stopped outside a rather large thatch cottage. It was indeed in the middle of nowhere. Christine looked at it. Its features were interesting. It looked as if it had been newly painted.

Erik slid off the horse's back and helped Christine down.

"This cottage is so beautiful." She said dreamily. "It's so peaceful here too. Who ever lives here certainly is lucky."

Erik felt another grin creep across his face. He looked down at Christine, who was still studying the grounds and the thatched cottage. "Do you like magic Christine?"

She met his eyes and gave a frown in puzzlement.

"Hold out your hand Christine." Christine held out her hand flat. "You see nothing in your hand, right?"

Christine nodded. There was nothing there.

He took his left hand and moved it swiftly over hers and a brass colored key had appeared.

She gasped. "How did you do that?"

Erik gave a proud smile. "A magician never reveals his secrets."

She looked down at the key in her hand. It was no illusion. It was real and she could feel it in her hand.

"Welcome to our new home Christine…"